Use of QR Codes in Health Care

Barcodes are ubiquitous in medicine. QR Codes are a type of barcode that can be read by smart phones to direct the phone to a website address.

Barcodes now play a significant role when patients are admitted to the hospital. Patients receive wristbands with bar codes, often QR codes, that are scanned when administering medications, helping safeguard patients from receiving the incorrect medication. Bar codes are also placed on patient charts and all prescription bottles.

Many hospitals are now replacing traditional bar codes with QR codes because QR codes can contain far more data than traditional bar codes. As a result, QR codes are often recognized by doctors, nurses and other emergency responders.

Check out how Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston is using QR codes to more efficiently and safely take care of patients here